Prudential: Rock Solid

Though up sharply in 2013, Prudential remains among the cheapest financial stocks in the S&P 500. Tuesday's dividend hike is icing on the cake.

Prudential Financial raised its quarterly dividend payment, reassuring Wall Street that it is in good shape.

Early Monday, Prudential (ticker: PRU) announced a 33% boost to its quarterly dividend, raising the cash payment to shareholders from 40 cents a share to 53 cents a share. The resulting $2.12 per share annual payment amounts to an indicated dividend yield of 2.4%, up from the previous 2%.